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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. capital — a big letter
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. cue — a signal
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. capital — money
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. mate — a friend
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. cue — for pool
  11. foot — a measure
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. rash — hasty
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. branch — a division
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. cue — a hint
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. capital — a city
  20. mate — to breed
  21. rash — a series
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. mate — a partner

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com